Pursuing a career that is interesting, rewarding and creative will mean that I’m really living, rather than just existing. I aim to grab this opportunity with both hands and run with it.
In 2011, I fell into financial difficulty through circumstances beyond my control at work. The only option open to me was becoming homeless. I was street homeless for 7 years. During that time, I felt invisible. A lot of places become inaccessible to you because of the literal baggage that you carry around with you on a daily basis. I felt ashamed and embarrassed.
But I realised one day that I was physically and mentally heading in the wrong direction. I got in touch with an outreach team and was soon offered a place in a hostel. I'm now in supported housing and feeling much more secure about my future.
As part of my recovery process, I was encouraged by my support worker to participate in some construction training run by St Mungo's. Here, I discovered an aptitude for a trade - tiling. I enjoyed it so much that I've decided to pursue it as a career. I'm really looking forward to my training - and to be able to come out at the end and find a job that I enjoy.